The Sacred Relic Humanitas
BOOM! KABOOM!
Every time the massive grayish-white Soul Weapon clashed with the Stamp, shockwaves rippled out, shaking the surroundings relentlessly. It was a raw contest of strength against strength. Liam met head-on the attacks where Tiny poured out his signature monstrous power in bursts, and their exchange seemed to grow simpler and more intense by the moment.
But a closer look revealed their powers were far from equal.
"Technically speaking, there's nothing I can critique. If I had to point out a flaw, it's just your realm and experience. What kind of absurd talent is this... Ha ha."
Liam chuckled in admiration, tongue clicking, while Tiny sweated bullets before him. The difference between them was stark on the surface.
Cool. Definitely worth learning from.
The more he sparred with Liam, the more Tiny couldn't help but marvel. The Challenger-grade knight, who maximized his earth attribute, fought in a style remarkably similar to Tiny's own. Moreover, his methods of wielding the attribute shared similarities with gravity, offering plenty to pick up.
How to shift his center of gravity while heavy and solid, how to load power into his sword... All worth noting.
The experiences piling up from each clash were soon etched into his Mana Body, smoothing out his transitions into gravity attributes.
KABOOM! BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM.
It drew another gasp from Liam.
"...Even 'genius' doesn't cut it. You're a monster... a monster, lad! Ha ha."
Riding the shockwaves from their successive collisions like a feather, Tiny absorbed the impact and surged back in even faster. Liam couldn't even pinpoint what attribute this young knight had awakened.
KABOOM!
"Your tenacity is impressive too..."
Liam marveled again at Tiny, who dripped cold sweat from wringing out every ounce of strength time and again. Yet he kept blocking the relentless assaults.
No matter the gap in realms, these weren't attacks to brush off lightly. Soon, sweat beaded on Liam's brow as well.
"Enough, that's enough! You're going overboard now!"
THUD!
He barely parried a mighty Soul Weapon swing with the Stamp, but the force sent Tiny flying backward.
Thud.
Huff. Huff.
"Th-thank you, sir."
Legs trembling, Tiny somehow steadied himself and bowed politely.
Liam nodded in satisfaction.
"Ha ha, what a startling experience in my old age. The world's a vast place—I've learned that anew. No, thank you."
The elderly knight wiped the sweat from his brow. He embodied the ideal senior—or teacher—who found joy in instructing the young.
Karon isn't short on talent after all.
Tiny had assumed they lacked proper knights, knowing only of the famed Gale Mage, Gail Anderson. But a knight was a knight, even without Aura. Liam von Peterson had single-handedly shattered the negative image of Karon's royal knights that had disappointed Tiny.
At this level, maybe I don't need to ask outright for help...
Maintaining this camaraderie seemed wiser than begging for favors. And Liam's gaze toward him brimmed with goodwill, proving the thought right.
"If the relic guardians bore you, come to the royal knights. I'll petition His Highness myself to make a spot. Vice-captain would be yours anytime. Truman's an old comrade from my youth; I'll smooth it over so he won't mind."
"...That's too generous, sir."
The sparring had built rapport a bit too well.
"Nonsense, not generous at all. At your age, with that skill? You could become a transcendent being someday. Our kingdom's in such disarray—you'd be a real spark of vitality."
"...Disarray, sir?"
"Oh, you haven't heard? No need to know, then."
How could he not? Even if the palace hushed it, Gail Anderson's disappearance was leaking out. Tiny had feigned ignorance out of pity for the bitter smile on the old knight's face.
Oblivious to his inner thoughts, Liam's kindness persisted.
"You were looking for someone named Husel, right?"
"Yes, but earlier you said you didn't know..."
"I'm stuck in the palace, so I wouldn't. But it's an odd name—someone might. Ah, a guy comes to mind. Ask Litman. I'll set it up."
"Pardon?"
"Litman—he's in the royal knights but answers only to His Majesty. Like a special ops unit. He's on an unusually long vacation right now, one he never takes."
"Oh, no need to go that far..."
"Why? Isn't he someone you must find? You've been grilling our boys one by one, haven't you?"
"...Sorry, but he's not someone I can go asking about publicly."
Tiny's awkwardness made Liam tilt his head.
"Hm... some backstory, eh? But you did ask the knights one by one. Doesn't that count as public?"
...Did it?
"Heh heh, didn't think of that, huh? You've got gaps I wouldn't expect. Well, genius knights aren't always brainiacs..."
D-Damn.
Liam's hearty laugh stabbed like a dagger into his chest.
"Litman and others taking long leaves lately... Times are turbulent; discipline's slipping. I hope you'll be the jolt to tighten up our royal knights."
With that paternal pat on the shoulder, Liam departed.
A few days later.
"Oh ho, so you're the holy one who smashed those demon worshippers? An honor to meet you."
Truman, captain of the relic guardians, differed slightly from expectations. White hair and beard, wrinkled face—he looked his advanced age, yet his eyes sparkled youthfully as he extended a hand first.
Expert-grade, huh.
A bit lacking for leading a nation's relic guard, but his demeanor was far warmer than his men's.
An old friend of Liam's, and seemingly decent.
"...The honor's mine, Sir Truman."
"Ha ha, honor? Too kind to a retiree. 'Excessive courtesy is no courtesy'—ah, an Eastern proverb. I misspoke."
"I know it. Overly formal respect isn't true respect. And honoring superiors hardly qualifies."
"...Indeed, you seem wiser than you look. Eastern proverbs too... Ha ha, truly impressive."
Truman, surprised by the reply, soon grinned and clapped Tiny's shoulder.
"Heard you sparred with the knights. Fancy a round with me?"
Tiny could only chuckle dryly. Truman's eager eyes deterred any bucket of cold water. Not every mana user could gauge realms at a glance like him. His own aura probably felt comparable, stoking the old knight's curiosity.
One oddity, though...
Didn't Liam mention my spar with him?
He wouldn't suggest this if he knew. Recalling Liam's casual mention of Truman, Tiny bowed politely to the waiting knight.
"...No, sir. Even with solo ops authority, I'm still relic guard. Can't be rude to the captain."
Trashing him outright felt wrong, and throwing the match impossible. Tiny deflected gracefully.
Truman seemed even more pleased.
"Humble too? Ha ha ha, perfect! A rare talent. His Highness finally eyeing our guard? Let's do great things."
Thrilled by the recruit, or by royal attention? Curiosity stirred, but priority called.
"Sorry on short notice, sir... One question."
"Ask away! Relic guard duties? I was taking you to see it anyway."
Truman responded eagerly.
"No, that's not... Have you heard the name Husel at the palace?"
With it already public, skipping Truman would be suspicious. He asked hopefully.
"...Husel? Unusual name. Beastkin or orc? Regrettably, few non-humans in Karon. Try the free city union."
Wise words, but not what he wanted. Jay, Blackwing's leader, was on it there.
Given the king's reaction then, higher chance he's here...
A sigh escaped amid the impasse. Truman clapped his shoulder.
"Sorry to disappoint. But those you must meet, you will—in time. No rush."
...Not that kind of reunion.
Tiny smiled awkwardly, swallowing the quip. Truman gripped firmer, pulling him along.
"Chat later—duty first."
"...Duty?"
"You need to see your charge yourself, right? Only His Highness and I have access."
"Ah...!"
Sacred Relic.
The word snapped him alert. One each in the beastkin kingdom Lycan, elven Elvenheim, dwarven underground Tertius, orc capital Bator. For humans: Aslan, the allied mage towers' hub, and Karon—seven in total.
And twenty years from now, in the future, they were gone.
Now mere symbols, per the Karon king.
- If even one of the Seven Great Relics had survived, this war would've been easier.
The future sages had said as much. Treasures humanity must preserve.
I have to!
Tiny clenched his fist unconsciously. Truman nodded with a smile.
"We relic guardians are seen as slackers, but seeing it will change your mind. Let's go."
One of seven treasures that shielded ancient humanity from rampaging monsters, preserving their line. Tiny's steps quickened toward it.
* * *
Step. Step.
The inner keep's central passage to the underground was eerily quiet. Without the sporadic torches, one might mistake it for a dungeon labyrinth.
Perhaps the prolonged silence felt awkward. Truman, leading, spoke up.
"Do you know why relic guardians are dismissed as a dead-end post?"
"...Because cities outgrew the relics' protection barriers?"
"All of it? An ancient human treasure—why send the incompetent there? Not self-pity; it's the same elsewhere."
Truman glanced back with a grin, utterly unshadowed. Nearing retirement, he seemed almost carefree.
Tiny pondered seriously but drew a blank.
"...Sorry, beyond that, I don't know."
"Of course... No one who hasn't seen it would."
"Pardon?"
Chuckle.
"Simple reason, really. Because...!"
Halting, Truman pressed his badge to the wall. Hum. Rumble.
No seam visible before, the dark passage split with vibration, pure white light spilling through.
The glow intensified, warm rather than blinding. Truman smiled.
"...No need to guard it."
The gap widened enough for passage, revealing the radiant object. Tiny stared blankly.
This is the relic...
Humanitas. Meaning humanity, mercy, or love for mankind in ancient tongue. A perfectly cut octahedron crystal. Unfamiliar, yet its gentle light proclaimed its sanctity.
But the biggest surprise from his imaginings...
"It's... huge."
"Yes, nearly house-sized. Floats by unknown means, and the unworthy can't touch it. No need to guard, then."
A shadow flickered across Truman's face, quickly masked by exaggerated cheer as he spread his arms toward Tiny.
"Now, test if you can touch it too... Eh?"
As he spoke, Tiny had already stepped inside, hand outstretched toward the relic.